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Meibomian Glands

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology

  • 71 Accesses

Synonyms

Tarsal glands

Definition

Meibomian glands are holocrine-secreting sebaceous glands that are embedded in the tarsal plate of the eyelids. There are approximately 40 glands in the upper eyelid and 25 arranged in a single row behind the eyelashes.

Structure

This type of sebaceous gland is derived from a common pilosebaceous unit that differentiates during the second month of gestation. However, they do not have a hair follicle. A common duct connecting multiple acini runs the length of the gland and emerges anterior to the mucocutaneous junction. The acini are lined by cuboidal epithelium and synthesize lipids, which are excreted onto the ocular surface, as meibum, through the gland orifice. Contraction of the Riolan muscle which surrounds the meibomian gland ducts compresses the duct when the eye is open, thus preventing meibum outflow. Expression of lipid onto the tear film occurs when contraction of the palpebral portion of the orbicularis muscle contracts and milks the...

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Further Reading

  • Chan AS, Colby KA (2008) Lid inflammations, Chapter 48. In: Albert DM, Miller JW (eds) Albert and Jakobiec’s principles and practice of ophthalmology, 3rd edn. Saunders-Elsevier, Philadelphia

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  • Dutton JJ (1994) Atlas of clinical and surgical orbital anatomy. WB Saunders, Philadelphia

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  • Dutton J (2008) Clinical anatomy of the eyelids, Chapter 12.1. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS (eds) Yanonoff and Duker: ophthalmology, 3rd edn. Mosby St. Louis, MO

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  • Ganatra JB, Goldstein MH (2008) Blepharitis, Chapter 4.4. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS (eds) Yanoff and Duker: ophthalmology, 3rd edn. Mosby St. Louis, MO

    Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, 2311 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA

    Laura L. Wayman

Authors
  1. Laura L. Wayman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura L. Wayman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Medical University of Wien Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Wien, Austria

    Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main Department of Ophthalmology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Thomas Kohnen

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Wayman, L.L. (2015). Meibomian Glands. In: Schmidt-Erfurth, U., Kohnen, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_107-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_107-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35951-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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